Sciatica

Sciatica is caused by an inflammation or compression of the sciatic nerve. It is not an illness in itself but a description of symptoms.

Causes of Sciatic Nerve Pain

The sciatic nerve starts in the lower back, travels through the buttocks and ends in the feet. It is an extremely long nerve, and irritation or inflammation anywhere along the nerve’s path can result in pain. Common causes of sciatic nerve pain include herniated or slipped discs, spinal stenosis, arthritis, pregnancy and spondylolisthesis. Common symptoms include lower back, leg and foot pain, numbness in one or both legs as well as feet and muscle weakness in the affected leg.

Sciatica is a debilitating illness that can make walking, climbing stairs and performing daily tasks difficult or impossible. Our chiropractor in Alpharetta can help diagnose the causes of your sciatica and form a comprehensive treatment plan to reduce your pain and improve your strength and stamina.

Treatment for Sciatica at Windward Healthcare

The most common cause of sciatic nerve pain is one or more ruptured discs. Herniated or ruptured discs occur due to excessive wear and tear on the spine, an abrupt injury or jarring of the spine, being overweight, degenerative disc diseases or incorrect lifting. When the disc bulges or slips out of place, it can put pressure on the spinal cord and sciatic nerve, resulting in widespread, severe back and leg pain.

Spinal decompression is an effective method of treating herniated discs. During this treatment, the spine is gently stretched in order to increases the spaces between the vertebrae and take the pressure off the injured disc. It also gives the disc room to retract and heal, which removes the pressure off the sciatic nerve and allows it to function normally.

Chiropractic adjustments are effective at treating sciatica that is caused by misalignments in the spine. Misalignments can cause sciatica when the vertebrae puts direct pressure on the sciatic nerve or inflames the soft tissue surrounding the misaligned vertebrae. By correcting the minor misalignments in the spine, we are reducing back pain and inflammation.

Nutrition counselling can help sciatic nerve pain that is caused by obesity. Being overweight increases the size of the abdomen and puts extreme pressure on the lower back, which can cause the vertebrae to become misaligned and the muscles of the back to become overworked. By losing excess pounds, you are removing the increased pressure on your back.

Corrective exercises can help rebuild your core and leg strength. When the back muscles are strong, they are better able to support the spine, which decreases the risk for a back injury and reduces back pain. Additionally, strengthening your legs can improve your stamina and allow you to walk, run and climb stairs more easily.

To schedule an appointment for your lower back and leg pain, please call our Alpharetta chiropractic office at 678-566-3000.